is it to late to plant for ducks?

mlbowfin

Senior Member
got a late start on a hunting track with multiple ponds along a creek. one pond is pumped for irrigation and water level fluctuates. is it to late to plant Japanese millet or any suggestions on what to plant this late in the summer?
 

hrstille

Senior Member
Its not to late to plant millet. Matures in 70-80 days. You'll be ok. Plus it stays warm in Ga into late October.
 

Mexican Squealer

Senior Member
Like stated above, plenty of time on jap. I’m still planting rice and have barely started on the Jap. Trying to wait till mid August on it. This “new” weather extends planting season for sure. I’d trade it for the old though.
 

across the river

Senior Member
If planting a swamp that's never been planted before do you usually apply lime or will the Japanese millet head out with out lime?
I’ve never limed for Jap millet and it likes the acidic side of 7 anyway. Unless you were less than 5 I wouldn’t even worry about it.
 

Duckbuster82

Senior Member
No, plenty of people plant corn a week or two before season. But really if the water level is Fluctuating often it may already have natural grass growing that will be sufficient.
 

Mexican Squealer

Senior Member
Sling some 17-17-17 on it when it’s about calf high. Also be on the lookout for army worms around the full moons in August and September. They can undo what you’ve done real quick.
 

ghadarits

Senior Member
If the areas you're looking to plant are already wet for a good portion of the year I'd be willing to bet you have a good stand of smartweed in at least one of them already. I wouldn't clear out the smartweed to plant anything else the odds are its going to out produce anything you plant and last longer. And its already there so you don't have to do anything but hunt it.
 

across the river

Senior Member
Would you fertilize if the PH is around 6?
That pH is great for jap, but yeah I would fertilize it if you can. You don’t have to like you do corn but it helps. As Squealer said watch for Army worms as that will typically be your biggest threat, much greater than pH or not fertilizing. I know several people who have had the “ deer and turkeys” clean out there Jap millet and when you look at it they have been decimated by army worms.
 
Ok, good deal. This area used to stay wet year round but the county busted up a beaver dam since it was causing flooding across a nearby dirt road. This area now gets dry in the summer but should be 3 ft deep in a normal winter. I'm now trying to reintroduce food in an area that used to be too deep to have anything grow in there. I'd like to get smart weed going if it's not already present.
 
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across the river

Senior Member
If you just go in there and disturb the soil, you will get stuff growing and smart weed will be one if there. May not all be what you want growing, but that battle never ends.
 
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Mexican Squealer

Senior Member
As stated above, if you can get in there and disturb the soil, you will get the seed bank to release all kinds of stuff...then you can cull the undesirables like sesbania, coffee weed and spike rush. It’s all right there in the soil.
 

Mexican Squealer

Senior Member
Spent the day cutting out Sesbania that came up in the Smartweed...the result, Smartweed as far as the eye can see. Turn the soil, kill the undesirables and this will be the result. The work never stops...and neither does the reward..377A2AB4-16BE-4A58-9B0E-6C1DD3F12618.png
 

ghadarits

Senior Member
Spent the day cutting out Sesbania that came up in the Smartweed...the result, Smartweed as far as the eye can see. Turn the soil, kill the undesirables and this will be the result. The work never stops...and neither does the reward..View attachment 1030721
That is a very impressive stand of smart weed! In a coupe of months its going to be a sea of pink blooms. I just hope your local birds leave a little for the migrators
 

Mexican Squealer

Senior Member
Thanks! I left water on about 100 acres longer than I usually do. Seems to have made the smartweed explode in those impoundments. Also seemed to cut down on the amount of sesbania I’ve had to fight in those impoundments.
 

across the river

Senior Member
Looks good man. When did you take the water off this year?
 
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